Active Fire Protection (AFP) - News

Governor Schwarzeneggar talking to firefighters in California after recent wildfires Directs Cal/OSHA to carry out largest heat enforcement effort in its history Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today mobilized the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to prepare for increased wildfire potential as unseasonably hot and dry conditions are forecast for much of California this week. Additionally, the...

U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran will address the NVFC Board of Directors at their Fall Meeting Fire Administrator Cochran will speak during general session U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran will address the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Board of Directors on Friday, September 25 during the NVFC Fall Board Meeting in Coralville, IA. Cochran will be speaking during the General Session, which is open to all meeting attendees. Cochran was confirmed by...

The application period for FY2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants begins on September 21, 2009 Primary goal of grants is to target high-risk populations The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has posted the FY2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants Program Guidance on the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program website. The application period is scheduled to begin on September 21, 2009 at 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST). Applications f...

The NVFC has released guidelines to improve health and safety procedures amongst volunteer firefighters New guidelines aim to improve volunteer firefighter health and safety The health and safety of our nation's volunteer fire service is a primary concern for the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). Each year, first responders are killed or injured due to factors that could have been avoided with the proper safety and health precautions. To help keep firefighters and em...

A new publication offered by Quality Parks Improves the way we respond to fire disasters With fires raging in the LA area, schools opening up for the start of the school year, and the upcoming fire prevention week this October, what better time is it than now to raise fire prevention awareness? Anywhere is fire prone, both in the wildlands and in our communities. Wherever fire strikes, we must be ready and better prepared. This is especially true of the wildland urban int...

A digitally-created preview image of the 9/11 memorial site Projects in all 50 states mark first time 9/11 will be officially recognized as a national day of service and remembrance Americans across the country will honor the victims and heroes of the 9/11 tragedy by serving their neighbors and communities as part of the first-ever federally recognized September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Service projects marking the eight year anniversary of 9/11 will tak...

The 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be held October 2-4, 2009 Annual fallen firefighter memorial event date announced The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Fire Administration announce that the 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be held October 2-4, 2009. A plaque with the names of 103 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2008 will be added to the...

Firefighter Janine Culley with her trophy, donated by The Worshipful Company of Firefighters London Fire Brigade officer won for record medal haul Firefighter Janine Culley has been named the Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association (FSSAA) sports personality of the year. Janine becomes only the second woman to win this prestigious award and she is also the first in the award's history to be presented with a trophy which has been donated by The Worshipful Company of F...

The Fire Science Academy has helped plan a new firefighter training facility in Gujarat, India Fire Science Academy's worldwide division provides consulting expertise to promote emergency response training in India With ongoing consulting assistance from the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy Worldwide, the Institute of Fire Safety and Disaster Management Studies (IFSDMS) in Gujarat, India, has broken ground on its new training facility, expected to p...

E-Semble's XVR has been chosen by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service E-Semble XVR selected for its flexibility British Fire & Rescue Service Warwickshire have awarded E-Semble a contract for delivering virtual reality training software. Warwickshire has several years of experience in using virtual reality in their incident command training courses. After a thorough study of the current available virtual reality simulation systems, E-Semble's XVR platform was selected...

Chief Jeff Johnson has been named President and Chairman of the Board of the IAFC New appointee will act as association's primary spokesperson The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has installed Chief Jeffrey D. Johnson, EFO, CFO, MIFireE, fire chief and chief executive officer of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue in Oregon, as IAFC president and chairman of the board for 2009-2010. The installation took place on August 28 during the IAFC's Fire Rescue Interna...

Verizon has increased its wildfire relief efforts for both firefighters and victims of wildfire Firefighters, evacuees depend on network performance, free communications services to remain connected Verizon has expanded wildfire relief efforts to include free service restoral for customers who have lost their home in the fires, which have burned more than 150,000 acres across Southern California. As part of ongoing assistance for fire victims, Verizon is waiving charges fo...

The 2009 Phillip L. Turner Fire Protection Scholarship has been awarded to student Benjamin Eschner OSU student was nominated as "outstanding rookie" by his peers The Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association (FAMA) has awarded the 2009 Phillip L. Turner Fire Protection Scholarship to Oklahoma State University student Benjamin Eschner. Eschner, a sophomore from Chicago majoring in fire protection and safety technology, will receive a $3,000 scholarship in recognition o...

Governor Schwarzenegger surveys damage caused by the 49 fire Firefighting resources will be directed to battle ongoing fires throughout California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today visited the 49 fire in Placer County to tour damage caused by the 49 fire and receive a briefing on the status of firefighting efforts statewide. The 49 fire began on August 30 and has burned approximately 275 acres and is 50 percent contained. "My administration is working around the clock...

The new U.S. Fire Administrator, Kelvin Cochran is officially sworn in by DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano Experienced former Atlanta Fire Chief now officially in office U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran was sworn into office today by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate at the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) 2009 Fire Rescue International conference in Dallas, Texas. Cochran will oversee and...

The Fire Service Award for Excellence was presented to Dallas Fire-Rescue Program to increase firefighter health awareness takes prize The 2009 winner of the Fire Service Award for Excellence is the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department's Wellness-Fitness Program. Presented every year at the IAFC's annual conference, Fire Rescue International, and co-sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and U.S. Safety Fire Technologies, this award recognizes the very be...

Rochester, NY Fire Department have bought thirteen Bullard Eclipse imagers Rochester, NY Fire Dept purchase thirteen Eclipse imagers The Bullard Eclipse thermal imager made headline news on 13WHAM TV in Rochester, New York when the city’s fire department purchased thirteen of the new cameras. The Eclipse debuted at FDIC in April and since then is quickly changing the way firefighters navigate in and out of a burning building. This low-cost, lightweight, perso...

Firefighter Nicholas DiGiacomo will receive the International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award at FRI International award will be presented at Fire Rescue International (FRI) 2009 Firefighter Nicholas DiGiacomo of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is this year's recipient of the International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor, co-sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and Motorola, Inc. The award will be presented at the 136th Annual Fire Res...

Incident Response Technologies will unveil Rhodium FIRE Command at FRI New software solution will be on show at FRI, booth #5615 Incident Response Technologies (IRT), a company that specializes in producing affordable software solutions for public safety agencies, will be unveiling a new solution designed to increase safety and accountability for firefighters at emergency scenes. Rhodium™ FIRE Command contains several components key to the safety and efficiency of em...

Task Force Tips new world headquarters in Valparaiso, Indiana New world headquarters inspired by firefighting history Distribution partners and firefighters are invited to join Task Force Tips on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 9 am when the doors of the company's new world headquarters will officially open for business. The building (at 2351 Industrial Drive,Valparaiso, Indiana, 46383-9511) has been years in the planning - as well as over a year of construction. The...

A flare on an offshore oil rig: a new USFA report addresses fire dept operations in maritime areas Report highlights fire dept preparedness for maritime incidents The United States Fire Administration (USFA) released today, as part of the Technical Report Series, a new report entitled Fire Departments and Maritime Interface Area Preparedness. This report addresses fire department preparedness for incidents in maritime areas and the importance of establishing a multiagency r...

  Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service has commissioned head-to-toe ICP PPE by Bristol Uniforms Bristol's ICP range will provide a long term solution for Norfolk FRS's PPE needs Norfolk's 820 firefighters will be wearing Bristol Uniform's ICP PPE from early 2010 following the recent decision by the county's Fire & Rescue Service to adopt the new national identity protective clothing available as part of the ICP. Some 1,750 sets of complete head-to-toe PPE will be...

The workshop, held during FRI, will address diversity recruitment in the face of budget cuts Workshops addresses need for diversity recruitment despite budget crunch Diversity recruitment within the fire service is faced with countervailing forces whose impact will increase over time. As witnessed by the Ricci case, legal issues abound. However, the dramatic reductions in recruitment dollars and staffing are, by far, the greatest impediments to fire departments strivin...

USDA is supporting National Firefighter Health Week, which is this year focusing on heart health Firefighter Health Week will focus on heart health The United States Fire Administration (USFA) encourages firefighters and fire departments to focus on health and wellness the week of August 17-21 through participation in the Third Annual National Firefighter Health Week. The theme for this year is "It takes a healthy heart, mind, and body to do what you do - Keep It Strong."...

Kelvin Cochran's confirmation as USFA Administrator has been applauded by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate releases statement Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate today applauded the Senate's confirmation of Kelvin Cochran as the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration. "As the Chief of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department as well as the former chief in Shreveport, LA, Chief Cochran brings extensive...

The IAFC has strongly endorsed Kelvin Cochran's nomination for U.S. Fire Administrator IAFC strongly endorses Cochran's nomination The IAFC has endorsed the nomination of Chief Kelvin Cochran to be U.S. Fire Administrator and has called on the Senate to move quickly to confirm him once hearings begin in August as anticipated. On July 17, IAFC President Chief Larry Grorud wrote to Senators Joseph Lieberman (I/D-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME), the chairman and the ranking...

Setcom will sponsor the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge (FFCC) Firefighter communications manufacturer will sponsor FFCC Taking on over 25 events annually, Setcom Corporation is set to take on what ESPN deems as "The toughest two minutes in sports." Setcom, a leading manufacturer of communications equipment for firefighters, police motorcycle officers, rescue personnel and industrial users, announced it will sponsor the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge (FFCC). The com...

Democrat Representatives have introduced bills progressing key issues for federal firefighters Democrats introduce historic pair of bills for federal firefighters With strong support from the IAFF, Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and John Sarbanes (D-MD) have introduced a pair of bills that would make historic progress on two key issues for federal firefighters: retirement pay and trade time agreements. Representative Connolly introduced HR 3186, the Federal Firefight...

80 percent of Essex firefighters voted for industrial action opposing cuts Essex firefighters show opposition to cuts 8 out of 10 firefighters and fire officers in Essex have voted in favour of industrial action short of a strike against plans to cut one in ten frontline firefighters based at stations. Fire crews also want managers to negotiate other changes rather than impose them without agreement. Keith Flynn, Essex FBU brigade chair said: "Essex fire crews have s...

Champion Rescue Tools' new free extrication training DVD will be launched at FRI 2009 Video teaches new technology vehicle extrication featuring latest Volvos & SUVs Champion Rescue Tools, the leader in next-generation, hydraulic rescue tools able to quickly cut apart the safest, 5-star crash-rated vehicles, and Volvo Cars of North America continue to demonstrate their mission to keep vehicle passengers safe and help firefighters save lives. Their jointly-sponsor...